Egypt wants to develop its ties with Russia, bringing the two nations to the level of friendship they enjoyed during the Soviet era. However, Egypt is not looking to replace the US as its key ally, according to the country’s foreign minister.

“We want to give a new impetus to our relations and return
them to the same high level that used to exist with the Soviet
Union,” Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy said following
a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in Cairo
on Thursday.

“We believe that Russia plays an important role on the
international arena. We want our relations to develop for the
benefit of both states,” Fahmy added.

However, the Egyptian top diplomat said that Russia was not meant
to be “a substitute” for any other country.

“Cairo wants to intensify relations. But they won't be
alternative to anyone,” the Egyptian FM said. He sought to
refute speculation that Cairo is headed toward a major shift in
its foreign policy.

Washington has remained a close ally with the country for three
decades, but tensions between the two nations have mounted since
the military ouster of President Mohamed Morsi in July.

Sergey Lavrov refrained from making any judgments on the
political developments in Egypt, saying that Moscow is against
“any foreign interference into internal affairs.”

“We respect Egypt’s sovereignty and the right of the Egyptians
to decide on their fate,” he said during a joint press
conference. “We expect that current efforts,
including the development of a new constitution and a referendum
on this basic law to make further progress and achieve the goals
set by Egypt.”

Lavrov and Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu are heading the
Russian delegation in the highest level visit to Egypt in years.
For the first time in the history of relations between the two
states, talks are being held in the ‘2+2’ format - two top
diplomats and two military chiefs.

Russia, Egypt begin ‘new era’ in military relations

Shoigu and his Egyptian counterpart, General Abdel Fattah
al-Sisi, discussed military collaboration during the talks.

“Strong and democratic Egypt will be an important factor to
maintain peace in the Middle East. We hope that the situation
will stabilize soon and that all problems will be solved by
peaceful means,” the Russian defense minister said.

The Egyptian army chief told media that the talks prove the two
countries “will continue strategic relationship, which is
opening a new stage in constructive and fruitful military
cooperation.”

“We have common goals for ensuring fair and lasting peace in
the Middle East. Our region is a heart of peace and guarantor of
security and calm,” Sisi said.

The two countries have agreed to hold joint military drills on
countering terrorism and piracy, Shoigu said on Thursday.

“We also agreed to step up exchange of delegations and expand
cooperation between the Navies and Air Forces,” the Russian
minister said.

Shoigu’s presence at the talks sparked rumors in the media of a
possible major arms deal between the two nations. According to
media reports, Cairo was lobbying for around US$2 billion worth
of Russian arms after the US discontinued support to Egypt’s
military-backed rulers. So far, there has been no official
confirmation that any such deal was discussed at the talks.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Fahmy told RT Arabic that the
possibility of his country buying Russian weapons “is being
considered in principle.”

“Egypt-Russian relations in the military-technical area have
been going on for over 30 years...Since 1970 ties and even
earlier, Egypt has been purchasing weapons from Russia and also
modernizing them. So, this topic is not new. An issue of buying
new kinds of Russian military hardware should be thoroughly
examined,” he said.

Cairo was the USSR’s key Arab ally for about two decades,
between the 1950s and 1970s, when the Soviet Union provided then
Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser with technical and military
aid, particularly during the Arab-Israeli conflict. The Soviet
Union also helped Egypt construct the Aswan High Dam along the
Nile.

Relations between the two nations weakened in the 1970s, when
Egypt’s foreign policy took a U-turn under President Anwar Sadat,
who brought the nation closer to the US. Washington has been
contributing about $1.5 billion a year in military aid to Egypt
for decades.

But following the July ouster of Morsi and subsequent crackdown
on his supporters, Washington withheld deliveries of military hardware and $260
million in cash aid to Egypt. The US underlined, however, that it
was not severing ties with its long-standing ally.
Secretary of State John Kerry said in October that the US would
consider resuming some of the aid "on a basis of performance"
following the interim government's ‘roadmap’ which promises to
lead to fair elections, Reuters reported.

The Egyptian army-backed government slammed the “strange”
decision which was made “at such a vital time during which Egypt
is facing a war against terrorism.”